Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fane unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches, and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m./7:30 a.m. daily)

Morris, a rookie running back, can most likely afford a nicer vehicle, but his ’91 Mazda — which is affectionately known as his “Bentley” — reminds Morris of his journey of playing at mid-level Florida Atlantic University to starting in his first two career games in the National Football League.

“It has some sentimental value to it now,” Morris said Wednesday before the Redskins headed out for practice. “It just keeps me grounded, where I came from and all the hard work for me to get to this point. So that’s what helps me.”

Morris said he didn’t have a vehicle at all until his junior year at FAU, so he certainly didn’t turn his nose up at “Bentley” when he had the chance to get it.

“I could’ve been like, ‘Ah, I don’t want this piece of crap,'” Morris said. “But I always wanted a car, and it was what I got.”

Learning to tame his “Bentley” wasn’t an easy task for Morris.

“It’s a stick-shift,” Morris said. “I had to teach myself how to drive it.”

Which made for some interesting road trips.

“It was rough,” Morris recalled. “I put my emergency lights on, and people would be driving behind me, and I’d be like, ‘My emergency lights are on — stop following me.’

“I’d be stalling at lights and stuff and just sitting there trying to get it started back up, and I’d be like, ‘I have emergency lights on. Why would you get behind me? You see the lights — go around.'”

Since that time, however, Morris has had some quality time to bond with his vehicle, considering he drove it more than 20 hours from South Florida to his new D.C.-area residence when he was drafted by the Redskins.

But how did he land on a name like “Bentley,” which is one of the more luxurious automobile manufacturers on the planet?

“My friends, when I first got it — it was kind of an eyesore,” said Morris, who then added that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

“But my friends just teased me like, ‘Man, what are you doing in that piece of crap?’ and I’d say, ‘Oh, you talkin’ ’bout that Bentley right there?'” Morris said. “The name just stuck, and eventually all my friends would be like, ‘Hey let me get a ride in the Bentley!'”

As it stands today, the Kelley Blue Book private-party value on Morris’ Mazda 626 is about $1,160. And that’s in perfect condition.

Also, that’s for a 1992 Mazda 626 model. Kelley Blue Book doesn’t even offer the option to go back to 1991.

Haters.

Anyway, Morris said he’ll likely buy a new car someday, but he plans on making “Bentley” a family heirloom.

“One day, my kids are going to drive that car,” Morris said with a laugh. “If it breaks down, I’m gettin’ it fixed. That’s just how I am.”

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61 Responses
to “Alfred Morris Won’t Give Up His ‘Bentley’”

Some people may not understand your sentimental value to the Bentley but I do. It’s funny how the simple things keep you humble. You are tribute to so many people. Keep up the good fight faith. Good things are coming your way.

Just saw this article about Morris’ car. There are “real” people all over this world. It’s nice to see an up and coming star stand up for his values and not be afraid to share them. This is an awesome teaching example for everyone to learn from. Nice job Alfred.

Alfred, you rock!! Nice to know that you were raised with values and practice them in real life. Here’s hoping you have a fantastic career!! Buy a car when the time is right. Remember, a car is nothing but a depreciating asset. Except for a few very exotic cars they all go down in value. Hey, maybe you should just buy a more recent model used car! 🙂

It’s nice that he drives his old car. But he really doesn’t have a lot of money. He signed a contract that “only” gave him 124K signing bonus. His average salary over the next 4 years is 500K. Buying a new car wouldn’t make a lot of sense. Save your money Alfred! Smart kid…

yo, Shout out to this dude for not splurging on something as insignificant as a car. If it runs, drive it. With this news of Vince Young spending 6k at TGIFridays, it’s cool to see somebody bein smart with their money.

I sold my first car last year and I was pretty sad about it. My mom had driven that car since I was 10, and passed it on to me when I got my license. This is an awesome story. Nice to see the rookie remembering his roots. Don’t let all the fame go to your head eventually!

Good job young Man! Keep than humble attitude and study the men who have been most successful at your position as a Redskin. The men who have won championships and are Hall of Famer’s didn’t have end-zone dances and were certainly not punks. When you score, drop the ball and get to the sideline. The PAT team doesn’t need to see a bunch of idiots getting flagged for excessive celebration when they are getting ready to get that point we need to win.

Great story! An inspiration to all who value substance and class (cool) over outward style and flash (fool). And I’m a Packer fan! I am a fan of this guy though. My great-aunt who lived in DC for 50 years is smiling in heaven too, I’ll bet!!

As a driver of cars that have 4 figure value, I’ll say that he hit the sweet spot. High reliability, low cost of repair, no cost of ownership. Sooner or later Ford or GM or Chrysler is going to give this guy a ride because he deserves a new car for his hard work, not his ego.

Alfred hang on to that money. Its easy to blow a million in one week but its hard to keep that money into your retirement. Because it doesn’t matter what salary you make. If you make a thousand or a million a week. It doesnt matter what you make becasue if you spend it all the end result will be the same, you will have nothing to show for.

How refreshing! I have a 1994 Ford Escort that is as ugly as sin, looks like it ran point in the battle of Fallujah (in Iraq) and the butt of many a joke. It has either 260 or 360K miles on it but I can’t remember which since the odometer only goes up to 99K. Get rid of it? Never! I’ll repair and drive until it drops for many of the same reasons you cited. I tip my hat to you. You and RG3 have make the Redskins my new favorite team. Hail to these Redskins!

I’m proud of Morris for keeping his old chariot. He must have gotten some good teachings on financial education. Most people know little about how to save for their future and for their retirement years. It takes perseverance and dedication, which also comes in handy for a pro football player.